LCBO – Dundas and Dovercourt

Rated 5 stars for being a hop, skip and a jump from me. Oh yeah, it has alcohol.

Probably my favourite of the west end LCBOs.
Good selection of craft beer and unique imports you don’t find in Parkdale, and has parking which you don’t get at the Little Italy locations.
Plus if you’re like me where you prefer to buy from the LCBO even though you have to return empties to the Beer Store, the Beer Store is only a block or so east so doing 2 stops in 1 trip isn’t actually too inconveniencing.

Decent enough LCBO that should be bigger, considering the neighbourhood’s gentrification. Better than average beer selection. Lineups can be long.

They are finally expanding and renovating this LCBO, which is a relief. This place has gotten much busier in the 3 years since I moved to this area, and the Vintages section has slowly expanded with the increased crowds. Now, they are finally tearing down walls and adding space, which is much needed. During the holiday season, sometimes you have to wait to get into the store there’s so little room!
Like all LCBOs, everything is ridiculously overpriced, even compared to the most expensive places in NYC, my former home. That’s what monopolies get you, and Ontario is the master of that, so no point in expounding further on that topic.
Unfortunately, I will not be happy buying my booze here until they improve the check-​out «girls», if Selma and Patty Bouvier* qualify as girls to you. The spinster who checked me out today couldn’t be bothered to pick up a bottle and put it in the bag I supplied. No, while the line behind me grew, she stood there impatiently as I pushed the bottles into her hands so she could scan them, and then waited while I got out my Air miles and interac card, paid using the Interac machine, and bagged my own purchases. When I sarcastically said «Thanks for all your help!» with a big laugh, she politely said «thank you». So, a reluctant worker, and unfamiliar with sarcasm. New staff, please!
*Familarly known as Marge Simpson’s sisters (
)

This is the LCBO that has no need to card me, ever, because I am here like clockwork every weekend. I am not trying to brag (no one should ever be proud of being a «regular» at a liquor store) but I just want everyone to know how wonderful the staff at this location are!
You know how some LCBOs have staff who know nothing about wine and couldn’t care less if you find what you want? This one is actually the exact opposite. It may be on the edge of Parkdale, it may have the occasional crazy person who wanders in yelling about something incomprehensible, but it offers service I have not found at many other locations in the city. When I have questions, someone is there to answer them, and if I’m trying a new beer, the cashier will tell me what she thought of it at the tasting the week before.
I love this LCBO.
One tip though — there is a huge difference between buying your booze at 6pm on a Saturday night at at 9pm when they close. Go closer to 6, because you’ll be waiting in lines that stretch across the length of this tiny store, and it’s really not fun to wait in line when you have beer in your hands that you can’t drink.